Waterproof shield for men&#39;s undergarments



Jan. 31, 1950 J, 1 PAIGE 2,495,863

WATERPROOF SHIELD FOR MENS UNDERGARMENTS Filed March l5, 1946 Jumus J- PALGE Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATERPROOF SHIELD FOR MENS UNDERGARMENTS Claims.

This invention relates to undergarments for men, and more specifically to a sanitary shield covering a frontal portion of the undergarment adjacent its crotch.

An object of this invention is to provide an undergarment for men with a shield or a pair of shields strategically positioned thereon to prevent discoloration of trousers due to urinal leakage.

Another object is to provide a shield with a waterproof member that can be removed or replaced at will.

Still another object is to provide shields that are flexible and comfortable in use.

A further object is to provide simple and inexpensive shields that can be cut and assembled quickly and sewn on conventional undergarments easily.

These and other objects are accomplished in the invention, by providing a sanitary shield comprised of a cover and a waterproof protecting member similar in shape to the cover. The shield is secured to the inside of a conventional pair of shorts or the like with the waterproof member between the cover and the shorts, the shield extending over frontal portions of the undergarment y,

adjacent the crotch and the lower portions of the openable ily.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryv perspective view oi a central portion of an undergarment for men, said garment being provided with a pair of sanitary shields made in accordance with the invention herein.

2 is a perspective view of the garment shown in Fig. 1 turned inside out to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of the face of one of the shields before attachment to the undergarment.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an undergarment provided with a pair of modified sanitary shields incorporating other features of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the garment shown in Fig. 5 turned inside out.

Fig. 7 is a View of the face of the cover of the lnodied shield.

Fig. 8 is a View of the face of a waterproof protecting member of the modied shield.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings and in the specification, in which like reference numbers designate similar elements, a central portion I0 of an undergarment for men, shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, is provided with a pair of sanitary shields II embodying features of the invention herein. The undergarment can be mens shorts or trunks, a union suit, combination or long legged underwear.

As is customary in an undergarment of the above mentioned kind, the central portion has a body portion I2 with openable fly portions I3, two leg yportions I4 and a crotch portion i5.

Each sanitary shield il has a cover i6 and a waterproof protecting member I'I. The cover I6 is pentagonal in shape, having a straight edge I8, a shorter straight edge i9 normal thereto, an edge parallel to the edge I8 but shorter, an arcuate edge 2I joining the edge 2U and curving inwardly, and an arcuate edge 22 joining the edges 2i and IB and curving outwardly.

The waterproof protecting member Il, which can be made of a very light plastic material, is similar in shape to the cover I6 but smaller, having three straight edges IBa, lila and ZI)ai corresponding to the straight edges I8, I9 and 20 of the cover, and two arcuate edges 2ia and 222L corresponding to the arcuate edges 2l. and 22 of the cover. To form the shield, the protecting member is placed on the cover and the cover edges are turned, forming folds 23 over the corresponding edges of the protecting member, and straight shield edges isb, I9b and 201 and arcuate shield edges 2lb and 22b adjacent the corresponding edges of the protecting member.

Each Shield I I is positioned on the inside face of the body portion I2 with the protecting member I'l next to the body portion. Stitches 24, eX- tending through the cover, protecting member, folds and body portion of the undergarment secure them together neatly and rmly. More particularly, each shield is positioned with its edge 20h extending downwardly from the crotch, its edge ISI across the front of one of the legs in a direction substantially at right angles to sides of the legs, its edge 43h inthe front of the leg, its edge 22b extending toward the ily I3 and its edge 2lb extending toward the crotch or point of beginning. Thus positioned, each shield covers a frontal area of the body portion of the undergarment adjacent the crotch.

In the variation of the invention shown in Figs.

5 to 9 inclusive, an undergarment 26 is provided with a pair of modified sanitary shields 21, each of which comprises a cover 28 and a removable protecting member 29 made of waterproof material. The cover 28 is similar in shape to the cover I6 having similar straight edges |80, I9 and 20c and arcuate edges 2|c and 22. A button 30 is sewed to each shield below but in the vicinity of its upper edge 22C. Each cover` is secured by stitches 3| to the inside of a body por tion 32 of the undergarment along all of its edges except the edge 22c which is left open, the position of the covers 28 on the body portion 32 being similar to the positioning of the shields Il on the body portion l2 heretofore described. The buttons 30 face the adjacent body portion in functioning position.

The removable protecting members 29 are similar in Shape to the covers 28, each having corresponding edges ld, iSd, 20d, 2|d and 22d and each being capable of fitting into one of the pockets formed by the covers 28 with corresponding edges adjacent each other. A button hole 33 in each protecting member and button holes 34 in the body portion 32 are adapted to coact with and admit the buttons 30, thus holding the protecting members in position and closing the' tops of the shields. By means of this construction, the waterproof members can be replaced or be removed at will.

While the drawings show the button secured to the cover, it can also be secured to the undergarment with button holes in the cover and waterproof member securing them together. In addition, other coacting fastening elements such as snaps and catches on the cover and undergarment can pass through openings in the protective member, and engage for the same purpose.

In both forms of the invention, the shields are positioned on the inside of the undergarments. While this is the preferred position, they will also effectively prevent trouser discoloration when positioned on the outer face of the undergarment.

l While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dencd in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an undergarment, having a crotch and an openable fly, a pair of sanitary shields opposingly disposed about the crotch and the lower portions of the y and covering frontal portions of said garment, each shield comprising an open mouthed pocket, a removable waterproof member capable of being inserted into and tting flatly within the pocket, and fastening elements consisting of a button hole in the waterproof member, a button hole in the garment and a 4 button secured to the pocket near its mouth, said fastening elements being capable of engaging to close the mouth of the pocket and retain the waterproof member therein.

2. An undergarment for men having leg portions and a crotch between the leg portions, each leg portion having a patch pocket attached to one side thereof along the inner side of the leg portion and provided with a cut-off adjacent the crotch, a removable waterproof member disposed in each pocket, and means releasably securing said waterproof members in position in said pockets.

3. An undergarment for men having a crotch continuing into adjacent leg portions, a sanitary shield mounted in each of said leg portions below said crotch, each sanitary shield comprising a piece of material stitched to the inside face of the respective leg portion along its sides and bottom forming a pocket having an open top, a waterproof member removably inserted into said pocket through its open top, and means retaining said waterproof member against falling downwards within said pocket.

4. An undergarment for men having a crotch continuing into adjacent leg portions, a sanitary shield mounted in each of said leg portions be low said crotch, each sanitary shield comprising a piece of material stitched to the inside face of the respective leg portion along its sides and bottom forming a pocket having an open top, a waterproof member removably inserted into said pocket through its open top, and means retaining said waterproof member against falling downwards within said pocket, said retaining means. comprising a button mounted on the inside face of said piece of material adjacent the top edge thereof and engageable with a complementary button hole formed in the top edge of said waterproof member.

5. An undergarment for men having a crotch continuing into adjacent leg portions, a sanitary shield mounted in each of said leg portions below Said crotch, each sanitary shield comprising a piece of material stitched to the inside face of the respective leg portion along its sides and bottom forming a pocket having an open top, a waterproof member removably inserted into said pocket through its open top, and means retaining said Waterproof member against falling downwards within said pocket, said piece of material being formed of an absorbent cloth.

JULIUs .1. PAIGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,370,812 Harrell Mar. 8, 1921 1,828,572 Lawrence Oct. 20, 1931 2,088,403 Brown July 27, 1937 2,114,532 Hochberg Apr. 19, 1938 

